press releases

N° 17-1995

Fatal accident at the Guiana Space Centre

05 May 1995

A fatal accident happened, shortly before 8:00 a.m. this morning, 5 May 1995, at the launch pad N 3 for Ariane 5 at the Guiana Space Centre.Two persons, Mr. Luc CELLE and Mr. Jean-Claude DHAINAUT, lost their lives during an inspection in the umbilical mast of the launch pad. The cause of death was by asphyxiation through inhalation of an inert gas. Emergency teams rushed immediately to the scene but all attempts at resuscitation failed.

The origin of the accident is under investigation. The enquiry is being carried out, in the presence of the authorities concerned, to explain the cause of this tragedy.